Page 25 - HIWT Winter 2012 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

letters to tHe editor

This is related to the editorial you wrote in the Fall 2012 Your magazine serves as a good market indicator of the
issue. (A Welder in Just Four Weeks?) You nailed it on the country’s skill level. Hats off to the dedicated staff at the
head as to welding qualifications and getting interviews after Institute. ~ J.W.W., California (Ret. Steelworker Chief; Ret.
4 weeks of training. How contractors and shipyards can hire USN Seabees)
in or even go beyond the interview process is also something
I have issues with, given what I have seen in industry. The I have been in the welding trade since 2005. I started in prison
acceptance standard shipyards use is the MIL-STD-248 and found out I could build with my hands. It is a great trade
which covers welding and brazing process qualifications and and course to learn. The Lord has blessed me to learn a skill
workmanship on federal contracts. Some of the journey or for society in the free world. ~ E.C., Kentucky
trades personnel I have worked with have local qualifications
with the contractor they were hired by; and the only experience I’m a welder, but I see ads for schools that train for underwater
they have was some welding booth time along with on-the-job welding and nondestructive testing inspectors. I can’t seem to
training. Most did a very good job, but had little formal skills get a straight answer from anyone on first-year salary for off-
school training. In saying this, I believe this is all driven by shore NDT or underwater welding, domestic or international.
primary contractors and subcontractors alike trying to get In Scott Linden’s book, “How to Make $100K Welding,” he
a piece of the contract pie regardless the lack of any formal says for the first two years after underwater welding school,
weld school training. AWS has established the standard for you will only be a helper. What’s the deal? Plain and simple!
everyone to comply to, but I totally agree with you that it gives ~ G.J.H., Texas
a false impression of what is needed to get an interview or be
hired in this technical field. Just wanted to let you know personally that I enjoyed your
article, A Welder in Just Four Weeks? Way to call it out! ~
You are doing an excellent job pointing this out with the media G.C.. Ohio
and clarifying what technical schools provide to ensure there
is a full grasp of knowledge that goes along with the soundness Editorial note: Let us hear from you! If you have experience in
of a weld. I look forward to The World of Welding periodical the field of underwater welding or any other comments, send
as I share its contents at the technical college when asked to them to hiwt@welding.org or to:
Marty Baker, Editor
substitute for other instructors. Take care and keep up the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
exceptional work! ~ D.K., Wisconsin (D.K. has military 400 Trade Square East
background and has a wide variety of experience in power Troy, OH 45373
plants, shipyards, and in education.) We will consider them for publication in a future issue.

aWs announCes MatCHing gift prograM for

endoWed sCHolarsHips

The American Welding Society (AWS) has announced that for Since 1991, the AWS Foundation has awarded more than
a limited time all donations to existing Named Scholarships $5.3 million in scholarships, and this year will award 400
or new Named Scholarships will be matched dollar for dollar. students with more than $390,000. To learn more about AWS
The AWS Board of Directors approved the matching program scholarships and make a donation, please visit, www.aws.org/
to provide more students with the opportunity to cover their foundation or contact Sam Gentry at 800-443-9353 ext 331 or
welding education tuition. email at sgentry@aws.org.

“The AWS matching gift program provides an excellent ABOUT THE AWS FOUNDATION: The AWS Foundation was established by the
American Welding Society on September 13, 1989, to support programs that ensure
opportunity for businesses and individuals to make a donation the growth and development of the welding industry through strengthening research
that will benefit the future of the welding industry,” said and educational opportunities in welding and related industries. Led by a volunteer
Sam Gentry, director, AWS Foundation. “This is an excellent Board of Trustees, the Foundation is organized as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable
organization. Administration, including program development, fundraising, public
program to establish a scholarship in your name, your relations, marketing and financial management, is provided by a small development staff
company’s name or your District or Section’s name.” of the American Welding Society. Its operations are conducted from the Society’s offices in
Miami, Florida. For more information, visit http://www.aws.org/foundation.

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